"Stupid man! Don't you see how much she loves you? That evening, after the Christmas party, she came up to my study and told me about you. She was pos...tively gushing about how nice you were and how much she wanted to see you again."She was? But why hadn't she called earlier? Ruth saw the question, but she tightened her lips."Don't ask me why she waited so long to call. That's something she'll have to tell you when she's ready. Let's just say that she had to arrange things first."I let it be,. I fully appreciated that Harry would be unable to fix the door for the night and I would have to take responsibility for the old guy's house safety. My girlfriend and I helped Harry into the house and sat him down. I asked my girlfriend to look after Harry who was already sleeping on the chair while I went the short distance home to pick up and take back a few tools to make a temporary door repair.I was away around 15 minutes and retuned to Harry's house to hear Harry laughing loudly and my. Elly looked across at Clegg. She knew he wouldn't be pleased. Clegg watched as the 'plane almost waddled towards them. It stopped. Strangways stepped up to it and slid back the rear half of the canopy. Grabbing his hat to keep it in place as he stepped into the wash of the Lysander's propeller, Clegg stepped up to the short ladder. Strangways shook his hand and wished him good luck. "Piccolo," he said. Clegg looked puzzled. "Your code name," he said with exasperation. Clegg had been told about. " It's Principal Bendon," said Richie as he stood up."Oh fuck, not her! Like we don't have enough trouble as it is." We're holdin' her back." How do you know?" Cuz me and Ned are in there. We're the muscle of this group."Melinda rolled her eyes. "It doesn't work that way."Richie shrugged. "I just know we're doin' something."Melinda gave him a frustrated look, though there was a hint of gratitude in her eyes as well. She wrinkled her nose and made a gagging noise. "Ugh. I can almost taste that.